PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh reveals he shared a joke with Brooks Koepka, NOT an awkward exchange

Seth Waugh, CEO of PGA of America, downplayed speculation about an awkward interaction with Brooks Koepka after the latter’s PGA Championship win over the weekend.

Koepka took his fifth major win on Sunday as he defeated Viktor Hovland and recently re-crowned world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to lift the Wanamaker trophy for the third time.

But some speculated that the five-time grand winner has a tense interaction with the PGA of America chief as he was awarded the Wanamaker trophy for the third time in his career.

During the presentation broadcast, the 33-year-old was seen at the Wanamaker as Waugh walked over to pose for a photo before quickly walking off without a handshake.

However, Waugh has since shut down the social media conspirators and explained that the pair were actually sharing a joke.

“I literally said to him, ‘I think they have four million pictures of me. They must have 24 million pictures of you. I’ve never seen one and I don’t know if you ever have,'” Waugh said. . Todd Lewis of Golf Channel.

He burst out laughing, he laughed and we kind of turned around and smiled at each other. That was it. Somebody chose to think that was a diss and I hadn’t shaken his hand. I’ve spoken to him five times since he won. I must have shook his hand and told him how proud I was of him.’

The PGA of America chief had posed for a brief moment near Koepka before appearing to step aside at the recently crowned champion.

Seemingly unable to bear it much longer, Waugh quickly left without a handshake or even any eye contact with Koepka.

As the CEO walked away, he seemed to whisper something to the champion, who turned and spread his hands, smiling.

The speculation was heightened by the fact that Waugh had previously been critical of LIV Golf.

Koepka is the first LIV player to win a major since jumping from the PGA Tour last year.

In the brief existence of the breakout, Waugh has done a few digs on the Rebel circuit, which Koepka joined last summer.

“Their logic that the team game is something important that people can get behind I think is flawed,” Waugh told The Times 10 days ago. “I don’t think people really care. And I don’t see how it’s a viable business model.

“They can fund it for as long as they want, but no matter how much money you have, at some point it doesn’t feel very good to burn it. I don’t see them achieving much.’

Waugh is also a board member of the Official World Golf Ranking, which is considering LIV’s application for recognition.

The application was filed last July, but Waugh claimed it would be a long process.

“There are certain parts of their structure that can be solved by math, but there may be some pretty fundamental things that are more difficult,” Waugh added. “There’s the potential conflict with the team aspect and then the entry – how do you get demoted and promoted?

“They had our last reply weeks ago and we haven’t heard anything yet. They have made a bad assumption that this will be a quick process. It never was. Each application has taken over a year to my knowledge.

“I can’t speculate (on how long it will take) because they haven’t responded. Maybe they need to fix things too, and it’s not clear if they want to.’

Waugh did, however, speak of his hopes for civility between the rebels and PGA Tour loyalists at his organization’s major after the first of the year, the Masters.

“The good news is that the Masters went first and set the stage for, quite frankly, civility,” he said. “That’s the tone we want — no one died, right?

“I’ve lived in a world of disruption my entire business career, and disruption is generally healthy. It makes you better and the game is better.’